Friday, October 31, 2008

Collector's Choice Music has scored an exclusive with the first comprehensive hits package to include all of Tommy James' singles with the Shondells and as a solo artist. The 40th Anniversary Singles Collection was approved by James and carefully assembled to include every one of his A-Sides from his work on six different labels. Release is set for November 25.

The company has also kept collectors in mind by assembling some rarities on the album. The very first track is the original, slower version of Hanky Panky as released on the Snap label and is followed by 14 more original singles, all in glorious mono. Some songs like I Think We're Alone Now and Somebody Cares include extra vocal overdubs not heard on the more standard stereo versions.

In fact, many of these versions have never been released before on CD. I Love Christmas includes the original arrangement with an a capella choir. Draggin' the Line is the single mix that you probably heard on the radio during its original run which contains extra horns not heard on most album versions. Calico is the pop radio version, not the jazz version heard on other anthologies. Overall, these are the singles as they were originally released and, in a special treat, the album ends with Long Pony Tail, a song cut by Tom & the Tornadoes in 1962.

The 2-CD set also includes liner notes by Ed Osborne and photo's from James' personal archive.

Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick has told Billboard that the group has a new album in the can. "It sounds cool. There are a lot of strong songs. I think Robin sounds great on it. I mean, the thing starts with Robin singing a cappella, which we've never really done for a whole song."

The group also would like to release a CD and DVD of their 30th anniversary show at Budokan which was recorded last April. At this time, they are not signed to a label.Bruce Springsteen has a Halloween treat for his fans at his website. A video and a free audio download of the song A Night With the Jersey Devil. The Dublin, Ireland building that was slated to be the highest in the country and was going to house U2's recording studio has been put on hold for at least twelve months. The Dublin Dockland Development Authority took the action because of uncertainty in the property and financial markets.The first day of testimony in the Phil Spector retrial was postponed after one of the alternate jurors fell in the court's parking lot and broke his foot. While the judge could go on with the trial, he said he was reluctant to lose an alternate this soon in what is sure to be a long, drawn-out proceeding. MusicCityTV.com talked with Hank Williams, Jr. about his recent run of ten appearances with VP candidate Sarah Palin.

“I’m quite motivated, cousin. “You might be looking at the next senator from Tennessee, if this keeps up and I AIN’T kidding!”

Earlier this year, Def Leppard released their latest album, Songs From the Sparkle Lounge. It premired at number five in the U.S. and dropped to 30 in its second week, 56 in its third week, 84 in its fourth and then disappeared from the charts. In the U.K., it premiered at ten and dropped to 56 then 95. Not too good for one of only five groups to have two albums sell over ten million copies in the U.S. (along with the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Van Halen).

The band feels that their label of 30 years, Universal Music, has let them down by not promoting the album as they would have in the past. Joe Elliott told Australia's The Age that "We tried to make this record sound like we really wanted it. We don't want to sound like tired old men. We may be old, but we're certainly not tired in the sense of just going through the motions. We're hungry."

"We delivered a record that couldn't be ignored. For the last five or six years we haven't had the greatest of support from our record label. We signed our contract in 1979, a lot of regimes ago. Once there was respect for what you'd done, but it's all just bean-counters now. I find that very sad."

That's why the group is looking at leaving Universal for the world of an independent artist. "If Radiohead and the Eagles can go off and do it on their own, that's an acceptable yardstick to measure our own chances by."

Michael Jackson has issued a statement saying that he will not be part of the Jackson 5 reunion tour next year.

"My brothers and sisters have my full love and support, and we've certainly shared many great experiences, but at this time I have no plans to record or tour with them. I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon."The Rolling Stones have already been signed to perform at the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London and Mick Jagger is interested in getting some help from David Bowie and Elton John. Names also being bantered about include Sting, Van Morrison, Phil Collins, David Gilmour and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, who played the closing ceremonies of last August's Olympics in Beijing.

A source said, "The Olympics people hope to use the template of the American football Super Bowl half-time show."Mamma Mia! has become the biggest British made movie ever at the U.K. box office and is second only to Titanic in total gross. At this point, Mamma Mia! has made 67 million pounds to Titanic's 69 million. Ex-ReplacementPaul Westerberg is all ready to write the music for Glen Campbell's next album, although Glen might not know it. After hearing Campbell's cover of the Replacement's Sadly, Beautiful on his latest album, Westerberg told his manager to "Tell Glen I'll be his next Jimmy Webb."

AC/DC played their first American show in seven years on Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and proved to all their fans that, even as they enter their sixties, they still have it.

Reviews say it still had all the pyrotechnics of the old days and the song selection was either very old or very new. The group played five songs off the new record, Black Ice, one song (Thunderstruck) from 1990's The Razor's Edge and the rest of the set from their pre-1982 catalog.

Set List:

Main Set

Rock and Roll Train

Hell Ain’t a Bad Place To Be

Back in Black

Big Jack

Dirty Deeds Done Dirty Cheap

Thunderstruck

Black Ice

The Jack

Hell’s Bells

War Machine

Anything Goes

You Shook Me All Night Long

TNT

Whole Lotta Rosie

Let There Be Rock

Encore

Highway to Hell

For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

The Who played the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ on Wednesday night on the sixth of their seventeen-date tour swinging through the U.S. and Japan and ending at London's indig02 in mid-December.

As opposed to their tour stops over the last couple of years, where they were promoting the Endless Wire album, this tour's set is filled with not only the hits but also a few obscurities with only two songs coming from their latest album.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Neil Young has canceled his show tonight (Thursday) at the Los Angeles Forum in support striking workers. He had been advised over the weekend by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees that they would be picketing the show as they are on strike against the forum's owner, the Faithful Central Bible Church.

Young and his wife are honorary members of the IATSE. He issued a statement saying, "I am extremely disappointed to have to choose between satisfying my fans or backing my brothers and sisters of the IATSE. I will miss playing in Los Angeles and apologize to my fans for the inconvenience this has caused."Randy Newman has canceled his 18-date European tour due to "physical limitations and severe pain caused by stenosis in the lower back and neck."

Newman wrote on his website "I deeply regret not being able to come. I like it so much in Europe and I've always been treated so well. I'll get there as soon as I can."Peter Frampton is quite unhappy with his predominantly Republican neighbors in Indian Hill, outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. His Barack Obama signs keep disappearing from his lawn.

Frampton called the Cincinnati Enquirer and asked to be interviewed about the situation. He said that he became an American specifically for the right to vote and he feels his right to free speech is being violated.It really is a bit tough to find any positive stories about veteran music artists and the campaign of John McCain, but yesterday Joe Perry of Aerosmith came out in favor of the current underdog, saying that he believes that he is better suited for solving security and economic problems.Simon Cowell has expressed interest in buying the rights to the BBC's Top of the Pops franchise and taking it to competing ITV. The weekly show was recently cancelled by the BBC and they have now announced that they will not be broadcasting a newly produced version of the show's annual Christmas special.

In reaction to the Christmas cancellation, Cowell said "It's been a good year for music and I think it's part of the tradition. It's not as though people aren't interested in music at the moment."

George Strait has been chosen by the Academy of Country Music as its Artist of the Decade. He joins a select group that includes Marty Robbins (60's), Loretta Lynn (70's), Alabama (80's) and Garth Brooks (90's).

The award will be given to the king of number ones (in any genre) to recognize not only his influence in the current decade, but also his 25-year career as an entertainer. Strait has had 56 number ones and has sold 68 million records. His 32 platinum and multi-platinum awards ranks him behind only the Beatles and Elvis Presley.

The ceremony will be taped on April 6 at the MGM Grand, the night after the 44th Annual ACM awards and will air at a later date. This is the first time that the award winner will be honored by their own network special.

In other George Strait news, a poll at the CMT site says that he is the fans' choice of country music star who should be president. Strait received 23% of the vote while Reba McEntire was close behind with 22%. Pretty much everyone else that received votes in the poll isn't old enough to take the office.

In a major coup by MTV Networks and Harmonix, an agreement has been reached with Apple Corps Ltd. to bring the music of the Beatles to video gaming.

Unlike the rumors that were circulating yesterday, this will not be an add-on to Rock Band, but a totally new video gaming experience. According to the press release, it will "be an unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles."

Specific details on the game play are yet to be announced, but it was creatively conceived with input from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison. Giles Martin, who co-produced the LOVE project, will be Music Producer.

What is known is that, while not Rock Band, it is based on the game's platform and will include new types of interactive game play. The music will come from the group's master tapes but will not be altered as was the case with LOVE. Nor is it known if the game will be usable with existing instrument peripherals.

Projected release date is fourth quarter of 2009.

"The project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles and their music. I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out," Sir Paul McCartney said.

"It gives me great pleasure to be part of The Beatles / Apple and Harmonix / Rock Band partnership," said Ringo Starr. "The Beatles continue to evolve with the passing of time and how wonderful that The Beatles' legacy will find its natural progression into the 21st century through the computerized world we live in. Let the games commence."

Yoko Ono added, "It's cool. I love it and hope it will keep inspiring and encouraging the young generation for many decades."

Finally, Olivia Harrison said, "People are having so much fun playing Rock Band. Combined with The Beatles tracks, it is a great way to either listen or participate. If you like the music, it doesn't take much persuasion to get you to play."

"Introducing the genius of The Beatles to a whole new generation of music lovers through original and inspired ways is extremely exciting to us at Apple Corps," stated Jeff Jones, CEO, Apple Corps. "We are truly pleased to be working with the innovative forces at MTV and Harmonix as they embody our mutual passions for music and creativity."

Finally, Alex Rigopulos, CEO and Co-Founder of Harmonix said, "By presenting their music and artistry through the creative filter of a groundbreaking video game, we are giving legions of fans and music lovers all over the world a profound, new way to experience The Beatles. This game will be a celebration of the Beatles undeniable legacy."

Hollywood Records has announced that they will release the entire catalog of Queen over the next two years on vinyl. Each release will include the original artwork plus bonus posters and pictures.

Wave one, out this week, includes A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Sheer Heart Attack, Queen and The Cosmos Rocks. New waves will be released every six months.

Wave two, expected in the Spring of 2009, will include Queen (in the rare gold-foil stamped edition), Flash Gordon, News of the World, A Kind of Magic and Innuendo.Jermaine Jackson is in Australia promoting a new Greatest Hits package and told the Australian Associated Press that the Jackson 5 reunion is on for 2009.

"This has been a long time coming for the Jackson family to get back together. It is just the timing, so what we've been doing is working on the music and all the logistics. It is going to be more like a family affair, Janet's going to open and, of course, the original Jackson 5 ... Michael, Randy and the whole family ... We're in the studio, we're planning on being out there next year."The Cure will receive NME magazines 2009 Godlike Genius award at the February 25 Shockwaves NME Awards. Leader Robert Smith said, "The Genius award is given to the band, and as a band we are honored. I think it is a recognition of all the Cure has done over the years."

The group will perform a 30-minute set the night of the awards at London's Brixton Academy.AC/DC is officially at number one on the U.S. Album charts with Black Ice after moving 784,000 copies in its premier week and it's taking along a couple of catalog titles. Back in Black sold 21,000 copies making it number one again on the Catalog chart and, if eligible, would have made it number 13 on the Top Albums (Billboard does not list catalog titles on their main album chart). That adds a few more to the already over 22 million copies sold of the album, the fifth biggest seller ever in the U.S. High Voltage sold 11,000, which would have placed it at number 53 on the main chart.

Earlier in the year, Prince went after his fan sites for the use of his picture and other intellectual property. Now, Bryan Adams is going after the hand that feeds him by hiring Web Sherrif to monitor the use of his name and likeness.

First on the agenda is the fansites, many of which are currently down as they negotiate with Web Sherrif who is trying to get them to sign a rights agreement to use Adams name and image.

According to Web Sherrif, “There is nothing sinister about this at all. It’s just that some of the fans are guilty of over-exuberance about the artist. … They’re doing what fans do and being enthusiastic but they sometimes take things too far by including links to pirate sites and using unofficial material.”

Also being targeted are tribute bands who are being asked to change their names so that they are not confused with Adams himself. For example, The Bryan Adams Experience has been asked to change its name to The Bryan Adams Tribute Experience.

Finally, just so we don't run afoul of Mr. Adams, we'll tag this story with a very nondescript Adams album cover.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

A 10 A.M. press teleconference has been scheduled for Thursday morning with Apple Corps Ltd. and MTV to announce "an exclusive agreement to develop a global music project."

It is being projected that the announcement will be that the Beatles will be coming to the Rock Band video game platform. It is known that representatives of the Beatles and Apple Corps have been talking with the people in charge of Rock Band for a number of months. The deal could be the first to bring the Fab Four's catalog into the digital age.

The Rock Band team has been better than those working on Guitar Hero in convincing major acts who are yet to go digital to come onto the platform. A recent "track pack" was issued with music from AC/DC who, like the Beatles, is not available on iTunes, Amazon MP3 or other digital sites.

El Debarge will spend the next two years in prison due to a recent drug bust in Los Angeles that was in violation of his probation from a 2007 drug arrest.Janet Jackson pulled a three-song section out of her show on Tuesday night at the request of Detroit officials. Before the show at the Palace of Auburn Hills, officials explained the Michigan state law against simulated sex acts in a public place. To comply with the law, Jackson pulled out the Discipline section of the show where she brings a male audience member up to be fondled (per se) by her and her dancers.

The tour ends on Saturday.Jimmy Buffett will perform a free concert, called the "Last Chance for Change" rally, on Sunday at Tampa's Ford Amphatheatre for Barack Obama. Up to two free tickets are available by visiting any early voting information table set up by the Obama organization. Bob Dylan will be performing an exclusive show for readers of his website on November 21 at the United Palace Theatre in New York. Tickets are available via a password system on the site. Bruce Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa move one step closer to being the folks on the street who turn their lights off and pretend they're not home on Halloween by not putting out their yard decorations. In a post on his site, Springsteen said:

To our friends and neighbors:

So as not to inconvenience you this Halloween, due to "catastrophic success" (read: too many visitors for the neighborhood to handle) and concern for the safety of kids and parents! we won't be having our usual Halloween display this year in Rumson.

We wish everyone a safe and Happy Halloween!

Thanks,Bruce and Patti

Over forty years after its ititial release, the "pretty nurse" "selling poppies from the tray" in the BeatlesPenny Lane has been identified. Stan Williams, a school friend of John Lennon, has written a book about his childhood days in Liverpool and talks about a Beth Davidson, who the students saw selling poppies dressed in a cadet nurse's uniform in 1954. MTV has moved back to music videos, at least on the Internet. The former music station has started the new site MTVmusic.com, which warehouses most of the videos that the station showed over the years plus everything they've missed up to today.

Harvey Goldsmith, who promoted Led Zeppelin in the 70's and 80's, doesn't think the group without Robert Plant is a good idea.

Goldsmith told the BBC, "I certainly don't think they should do a big tour because I can't see the point of it. I just think it's a lot of talk, I think it's wishful thinking. Whether they all come together and do something in the future, they may.

"I think some of the band really want to go out and do it and other parts of the band need to understand why they're doing it, and if there's no compelling reason to do it, then they shouldn't do it.

"I think that there is an opportunity for them to go out and present themselves. I don't think a long rambling tour is the answer as Led Zeppelin.

"It's a question of whether they want to do it, and you've got to want to do it.

"Otherwise it's done for the wrong reasons, and when things are done for the wrong reasons, they don't work."

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Start the office pool now on how long this one will stay up on eBay. Someone is trying to sell Robert Johnson's Soul (slightly used).

It's a real bargain, too, since it's free shipping.

According to the seller, "Up for auction is this classic: Robert Johnson's Soul! Complete with a certificate of authentication. I'd like to keep it but, well, even the devil has fallen on hard times. So I'm selling -- and look at the low reserve! I barely used it -- only pulled it out when I needed to entertain at parties. Like-new condition. It'll make you play great guitar. Really. You could be famous. More famous than all those guys on igetblues.com. They can't play like Robert. His soul will make you smoke. His soul is smoking now. Well maybe that's because of the location I'm storing it in."

AC/DC has sold 784,000 copies of Black Ice in its first week of release in the U.S. and will top the Billboard album charts. It's the second highest sales total of any album this year, behind Lil Wayne's The Carter III which sold 1,005,000. Their last number one album in America was 1982's For Those About to Rock We Salute You.

A press release claims that the album is premiering at number one in 29 countries, including the UK, Germany, Canada, France, Argentina, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and more.More trouble for the Janet Jackson tour. Opening act LL Cool J has dropped out of the tour, sighting unspecified scheduling conflicts. No new act has been named.Christie's auction house has announced the first major auction of Punk memorabilia for November 24. Highlights include a 1976 poster for a London Ramones show, a flier from the same year for a show with the Clash, the Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks, a copy of the Sex Pistols first press release and a 1966 promotional packet for David Jones (aka Bowie).Charlie Daniels has told The Tennessean newspaper that he doesn't care who you vote for, just do it.

"Get out and vote. I am so disgusted every time when the election returns come in that only a certain percentage of the people have voted. And some of them are the ones who complain the loudest. You have nothing to complain about if you don't vote.

"Vote for whoever you want to. Vote for Obama or McCain or write in somebody; at least take the time to vote. If 80 percent of the electorate would turn out one time, it would shake Washington to its foundation."Activision will be releasing the Jimi Hendrix tracks If 6 was 9, Little Wing and Fire (Live) for the Guitar Hero: World Tour platform on November 13.Pat Boone has created two new websites to highlight a pair of his passions. For My Country, The History of the National Guard (www.formycountry.us ) is a "stellar visual and musical homage to the "people's militia" and the nation's oldest service branch, the 500,000 member National Guard. It includes both an original documentary and an accompanying CD, on which is featured the first Anthem ever created for the National Guard."

Thank You Billy Graham (www.patsgold.com/billy-graham/thank-you.html) is a "star-studded musical tribute to the greatest evangelist of our time, Dr. Billy Graham. Many of the greatest musicians in the world, including Bono, LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill, Larry King, Michael McDonald, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Pride, George Strait and many other musicians and special guests share personal experiences about Billy Graham and join together in this musical tribute to one man who changed our world with one message."

Just in time for Halloween, Forbes has raised the dead with their annual list of the biggest moneymaking celebrities and, for the second year in a row, Elvis Presley leads the pack. He pulled down $52 million last year from his regular record and memorabilia sales along with larger grosses at Graceland due to the 30th anniversary of his death and new ventures like the Elvis Sirius Satellite Radio Show. Presley had fallen to second in 2006 behind Kurt Cobain before taking the top spot back last year.

$52 million makes Presley the third biggest musician overall when placed on Forbes List of the Highest Earning Musicians behind the Police ($115 million) and Beyonce ($80 million) and just above Toby Keith, Justin Timberlake and Madonna.

John Lennon drops second to ninth with income falling from $44 to $9 million. Falling totally off the list are George Harrison (4 last year), James Brown (11) and Bob Marley (12) while Marvin Gaye is new.

After about 10,000 rumors from various "sources" (read they don't want their names used so it very well could be the writer's Uncle Phil), there is finally some official word from a member of Led Zeppelin on new recordings and touring.

Bassist John Paul Jones was interviewed by BBC's Radio Devon and said that he, Jimmy Page and Jason Bonham "are trying out a couple of singers."

Jones told an group at a guitar exhibition in Devon, "As you probably know, Jimmy, Jason and I are actually rehearsing and we've had the odd singer come in and have a bash.

“As soon as we know, which we don't, we will let you know. But we really hope that something is going to happen soon because we really want to do it and we're having a lot of fun, actually, just rehearsing.”

Later, in the Radio Devon interview, he said "We want to do it. It's sounding great and we want to get on and get out there. [But] it's got to be right. There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band."

"The most pleasure is making music. I love listening to it, but nothing as much fun as having an instrument in my hand and communicating with people."

Warner Brothers Records has announced that they will celebrate their 50th anniversary with the December 9 release of the book Revolutions in Sound. The book is authored by music historian and educator Warren Zanes. The 240-page hardcover book will contain exclusive interviews, never-before-seen photographs and insider accounts on the hits.

The book will also come with a USB flash drive with 320 recordings from the Warner Brothers, Reprise, Sire and other affiliated labels that reflects the diversity of the company's output. The drive, shaped like the Warner Brothers logo, holds the equivalent of a 20-CD set.

Per the press release:

Ranging from Jimi Hendrix to My Chemical Romance, the Grateful Dead to Madonna, Fleetwood Mac to Frank Sinatra, Tab Hunter to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the who's who of the label's roster reflects an unequalled cross section of cultural history and some of today's most important artists. Other notable artists associated with the company's rise and continuing industry leadership are Green Day, Van Halen, Michael Bublé, Regina Spektor, The White Stripes, Cher, Curtis Mayfield, Ramones, REM, Faith Hill, Alanis Morrisette, Randy Newman, Funkadelic, Seal, Big & Rich, Alanis Morrisette, Linkin Park, Josh Groban, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton and hundreds of others, many of whom have come to be known as household names over the course of fifty years and whom have continued Warner Bros. success as the industry's No. 1 label in the U.S. for two of the last three years.

Tom Whalley, Chairman of Warner Bros. Records, commented, "The company's 50th anniversary presents us with a singular opportunity to celebrate one of the richest and most storied traditions in the music business. It's a chance for us to reflect on the company's abiding belief in creative freedom and artistic self-determination."

Also on tap for the label in the coming months:

A deluxe box set comprised of ten CDs packaged with an accompanying booklet derived from Zanes' research.

A release of the book as a standalone title by Chronicle Books.

A special album, scheduled February, with classic Warner Brothers songs performed by modern Warner artists.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Donny and Marie Osmond have extended their run at the Flamingo in Las Vegas through October 2010. We're really not sure it was necessary to announce it with the headline "Donny, Marie extend Las Vegas Strip show to 2010."Slash of Guns 'N' Roses not only plays a Les Paul guitar, but he's a big fan of the man himself. He talked to Spinner about his admiration for the 93-year-old legend. "Les is just this really amazing guy with a fantastic fuckin' mind."

In talking about their first jam session in 1991, Slash said, "Because he plays primarily jazz and old standards and stuff, I was way out of my element. I always use playing with him as a barometer to see where my skill set is at that point."

Slash will be one of the performers at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to Paul on November 15.Bob Geldof was given an honorary degree from the University of East London for his contributions to music and humanitarian efforst. He addressed the science graduates at the school, joking "I actually thought you were going to be a bunch of musos, it turns out you're geeks."Country songwriter Horace Eldred "Danny" Dill passed away last Thursday at the age of 83. He was best known for writing two country classics, Long Black Veil, written with Marijohn Wilkin and recorded by Johnny Cash, Lefty Frizzell, the Band, Jerry Garcia and many others, and Detroit City, which he wrote with Mel Tillis and was a hit for both Bobby Bare and Tom Jones.

Dill was inducted into the Nasville Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1975.Island Records will be fifty in May 2009 and, to celebrate, founder Chris Blackwell will be overseeing the week-long Island 50 Festival at London's Shepherds Bush Empire.

Blackwell said in a statement, "It has been an honor and a privilege to work with some of the greatest musical artists of all time. It was always my intention at Island to make records that stood the test of time, and I'm proud that Island is still a potent force in music 50 years since that first release."

Along with the festival, there will also be classic album reissues, new compilations and box sets and documentaries....and you thought your financial situation was bad. EMI reported a lost of $1.2 billion (yes, with a B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. Keep in mind, that's even before the economy started to really turn sour.

According to a Gigwise story, "The root of the loss comes from a poor operational system, which focuses on an extremely high spending model including executives with overly large salaries, poor reporting of data in regards to artist’s profits and exceedingly traditional artist relationships."

The Songwriter's Hall of Fame has announced their nominees for their 2008 induction. Members of the society have until November 12 to submit their ballots, after which the new inductees will be announced.

The Hall breaks the nominees into two categories, Non-Performing Songwriters and Performer/Songwriters, although we'll be the first to admit it's not clear how the nominees are broken out as artists like Boyce and Hart and Joe South certainly were/are performers.

The funeral for Four Tops great Levi Stubbs was held earlier today (Monday) in Detroit. Attending were many Motown greats like Barry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Detroit councilwoman Martha Reeves, Kim Weston, Eddie and Brian Holland and more along with community leaders such as the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Gordy said that Stubbs "was greater than soul... He not only sang the song; he was the song." Robinson talked about his Miracles battling the Four Aims (their original name) at talent shows and usually losing.

Jackson, in his eulogy, told the crowd of over two thousand to stand up and "scream like you're at the Apollo for the first time, or Twenty Grand!"

The lone surviving member of the original Four Tops, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, said "there will always be, through eternity, the four of us." Fakir's son and Stubb's godson, Minister Nazim Fakir, delivered a scripture.

A recording of Stubbs' I Believe in You and Me was played over the speakers and Martha Reeves sang parts of a number of Four Tops songs before inviting all of the Motown alumni to come stand before the casket and pay their final respects.

Before and after the service, many from the Motown family paid compliments to Stubbs. Dennis Edwards of the Temptations said "We have lost one of the best singers of all time," while another member of the group, Dennis Franklin, said "We lost the greatest lead singer ever. He was my mentor and best friend. He will be missed." Martha Reeves called Stubbs "my Pavarotti."

The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper held its 9th annual poll on who should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame based on this year's nominees.

Metallica came out well ahead, as they may in actual balloting with their current exposure from the number one album Death Magnetic, with the other "inductees" being Run-D.M.C., War, the Stooges and Little Anthony & the Imperials. Not garnering enough votes, at least from the Plain Dealer readers, were nominees Jeff Beck, Chic, Wanda Jackson and Bobby Womack.

Lars Ulrich talked to the Plain Dealer and said, "That's really nice to hear! It's been a great year for Metallica. There's a lot of love and goodwill from the fans, from the critics, from the peers, from all the sixth graders over at my son's school. There's a lot of love everywhere I look.

"It's amazing to be able to say 27 years into your career that you actually feel like you're on top of your game."

The Cleveland paper also asked who should be inducted that wasn't on the ballot, with responses ranging from Weird Al Yankovic to the Moody Blues and Kiss. As far as Ulrich goes, he'd pick Deep Purple, Rush, Motorhead and Iron Maiden.

Jerry Lee Lewis says he would like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to play on his next album. "I have known them back when they were kids. Ain't that something? They ain't kids no more."Until we hear ANYTHING other than "a source" reporting to the U.K.'s Mail on Sunday, we're going to put this into the silly rumor of the year running. Reports are that Led Zeppelin, minus Robert Plant, has been rehearsing with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler for a possible tour.Gigwise is reporting that Michael Jackson is getting ready to announce a 30-show world tour. Supposedly, Michael flew from Las Vegas to L.A. last week to finalize details with his managers. In addition, a fan said that he told them "he wasn’t doing a Vegas residency but was going on a world tour, taking in 30 cities next year. He said he wanted to do it for his kids. He wants them to see what he does, and he wants to take them on the road.”Next week's U.S. album charts will most certainly show AC/DC to have the new number one album. In Britain and Australia, whose charts come out on Sunday, they've already achieved the feat. In Britain, it's their first number one album in 28 years while, in Australia, the album has already sold 91,000 copies, the most of any album in Australia this year.In accepting her Icon Award at the Billboard Women in Music breakfast, Debbie Harry announced that she is working on a new Blondie album and is planning on writing her memoirs.Tom Jones has admitted to wearing a goatee to cover a scar from plastic surgery. "I had the fat removed from under my chin. That's why I wear the goatee because it covers the scar. If I went for laser treatment, I could get rid of it, but I thought, f**k it, I'll wear a goatee.

"My nose, that was straightened. Then, with the eyes, they took the heaviness out of the lids." B.B. King, the B-52's, Richie Sambora and the Flaming Lips are among the artists who have been brought in by NBC to play their own stylized versions of the famous NBC chimes.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current music charts. Chart highlights:

Lucinda Williams, who has been recording for almost 30 years and has been putting albums on the charts for the last ten, finally has a top ten album. Little Honey premiered at number nine on the Top Albums chart, along with number five in Rock Albums. It also opened strong at number 18 in Canada and 51 in the U.K. Her last album, West, made it to number 30 in Britain.

Elvis Presley is back on the charts with Christmas Duets, an album of newly recorded vocals meshed with Presley's original Christmas recordings. It debuts at 61 in the U.S. and a very impressive 20 in Canada.

Tony Bennett, who is a regular on the Jazz Charts, premiers at number four with A Swingin' Christmas. Also premiering on the chart is a live album from Phoebe Snow at number eight. Meanwhile, on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, Al Jarrau's Christmas premiers at 14.

The Dave Clark Five premier at number 15 in the U.K. with The Hits. This is the rare release of any of the group's catalog as Dave Clark has held the rights very closely since the beginning of the CD era. No word on a U.S. release at this time.

This should be the last week that you see Metallica's Death Magnetic as the top album from a veteran artist, at least for awhile. In Australia, AC/DC's Black Ice premiered at number one on the strength of numerous stores breaking street date to get the album into the customer's hands.

It's been over a year since Robert Plant & Alison Krauss released Raising Sand, but it makes a big comeback this week, jumping from 127 to 50 on the Album Chart and 21 to 9 on the Country Album chart.